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Fashion, Dress and Identity

Key information

  • Module code:

    5AAIC014

  • Level:

    5

  • Semester:

      Spring

  • Credit value:

    15

Module description

This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive, critical analysis of fashion. It provides historical context for the emergence of the fashion industry, examines theories that account for its development and role fashion in societies in modernity, and explores critical responses to some pressing issues facing the industry today. The module will look at the emergence of fashion which both shapes and reflects modern culture and society. From a historical perspective, this means understanding how fashion has moved from being the preserve of an elite practice to an everyday one, charting its movement from courtly societies in Europe to 20th century spread of fashion to the high street and to subcultural fashions, and from a system of style controlled by a small group of elites (couture designers for example) to street style worn by ‘influencers’. However, this module will explore the industry from a global perspective, challenging existing earlier, classic narratives about fashion and decolonialising our understandings of the industry to think about the different ways in which fashion has developed and is engaged with and around the world. The role fashion plays in constructing and articulating identities will be a constant theme running through the course.

Assessment details

Coursework weighted at 100% - 3,000-word Essay

Educational aims & objectives

This module aims to: 

  • Familiarise students with concepts and debates about the role and place of fashion in modern culture and examine how fashion is expressive of cultural identities

  • Locate fashion within historical context for its emergence and development

  • Provide students with a contextual theoretical framework of different disciplinary approaches to the study of fashion

  • Encourage critical analysis of the challenges of the fashion industry in contemporary society

  • Engage students in a variety of teaching and learning methods through group and individual exercises encouraging a discursive approach and critical, reflective thinking.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate their ability to: 

  • Understand concepts in, and theoretical models of, fashion and culture

  • Use these ideas to construct critical and analytical arguments

  • Understand the context(s) within which fashion has emerged and its significance within modern society

  • Develop independent, self-directed learning skills

Teaching pattern

Ten one-hour lectures and ten one-hour seminars

Subject areas

Department

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.